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A new KFF–Washington Post survey released today finds most parents remain confident in long-standing childhood vaccines like measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) and polio and even support mandates for school entry, but skepticism remains widespread when it comes to seasonal flu and COVID-19 vaccines.
The poll of 2,716 U.S. parents showed:
- 90% say MMR vaccines are important for children in their community, and 88% say the same about polio.
- Roughly 84–85% express confidence in the safety of the shots.
- By contrast, only 56% view flu shots as important for kids, and fewer than half (43%) say the same about COVID-19 vaccines. Confidence in safety is 65% for flu and just 43% for COVID-19.
The survey comes as Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. questions the CDC’s vaccine schedule and promotes policy changes that have generated both confusion and concern among parents.
School Vaccine Mandates
The majority of parents responding also support school mandates, with 8 in 10 agreeing that schools should require MMR and polio vaccines for school attendance, with allowances for medical and religious exemptions. This consensus cuts across party lines. Still, 8% of parents say they have sought an vaccine exemption for a child to attend school or daycare.
Rationale for Skipping, Delaying Vaccines
While most parents keep children up to date, 16% say they have skipped or delayed at least one childhood vaccine (other than against flu or COVID). That number rises to:
- 25% among MAGA Republicans
- 22% among Republicans overall
- 19% among parents under age 35
- 46% among families that homeschool
The most common reasons for the hesitation include concerns about side effects, doubts about vaccine safety, and feeling that not all recommended vaccines are necessary. Nearly half of those who delayed cited not wanting multiple shots at once. About 50% also said their child’s health care provider supported their decision. Approximately 1 in 4 said they had changed or had tried to change clinicians based on the professional’s view on vaccines.
Age did make a difference in perceptions of vaccine safety with younger parents (younger than age 35) more concerned than older groups. The survey also found that Black parents were less confident in the safety of flu, MMR, and polio vaccines than White and Hispanic parents.
False Claims Sow Confusion
The survey asked about specific false claims circulating about vaccines and measles. While relatively few (9%) said they believe the false claim that the MMR vaccine causes autism, nearly half (48%) responded that they don’t know enough to say one way or the other. Parents of children diagnosed with autism appeared more likely (16%) to believe the false claim that vaccines are the cause than other parents.
Four in ten parents say children are healthier if vaccines are spaced out, reflecting concerns promoted by federal officials who question current guidelines and have suggested there may be changes made to the childhood vaccination schedule.
Views on HPV Vaccine
About 60% of parents of children ages 9 and older say their child has received or will likely receive the vaccine against human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine. Sentiment on this matter reflected the current political divide:
- 76% of Democratic parents say their child has or will get the shot.
- 51% of Republican parents say the same.
Moral or religious concerns and worries about long-term safety were the most common reasons cited by parents who oppose the vaccine for a child.
Can Federal Agencies be Trusted?
The poll findings underscore the shaky confidence in federal oversight. Only 14% of parents say they have “a lot” of confidence in the CDC or FDA to ensure vaccine safety and effectiveness. Half report having only a little (29%) or no confidence (22%). Approximately a quarter (26%) say the CDC recommends too many vaccines.
Despite the near daily headlines and media coverage about policy changes and federal health agency upheaval, parent’s awareness of the drastic shifts that could affect their children’s future immunizations is quite limited. Six in 10 of those surveyed said they have heard little or nothing about them.
The survey underscores a split landscape among American parents. As strong as the consensus is around core childhood vaccines, the uncertainty about and mistrust of newer and seasonal immunizations persists. At the same time, confidence in federal health agencies is low, and confusion fueled by misinformation remains widespread.
New KFF-Washington Post survey explores parents’ trust in, and confusion about, childhood vaccines as the Trump administration revamps federal policies. News release. KFF. September 15, 2025. Accessed September 16, 2025. https://www.kff.org/public-opinion/new-kff-washington-post-survey-explores-parents-trust-in-and-confusion-about-childhood-vaccines-as-the-trump-administration-revamps-federal-policies/